BusinessVoice News Network

Your laptop can be vital to work and play and there’s a right way to clean it. Use a microfiber cloth dampened with plain water to gently wipe down all surfaces but never spray any cleaner onto the laptop. Compressed air can blow dust and dirt from vents and gently shaking the laptop while holding it upside down will dislodge dirt and crumbs from between the keys. Source Link 

How can you improve the look of your home for just $20? Swap a regular light bulb for a smart model that lets you fine-tune the color and brightness, make over light switches, refresh cabinet hardware, or add self-stick paper to the top of an end table for a new look. You can even create giant wall art by stretching a colorful shower curtain across a simple wood frame. Source Link

These small steps might lead to a more-healthy life for you. Swinging arm circle exercises can help your shoulders and neck muscles and practice standing on one leg to improve your balance. Sit on the floor for 30 minutes a day for better hip joints, and get more steps by walking during a phone conversation. Source Link 

Why should you skip the tablet and grab a book when reading to your toddler? Testing showed that young children paid more attention to parents when sharing a paper book and were less likely to act out. Holding a real book was less distracting than using a screen that may encourage a child to play with it. Source Link

With more people shopping online, more scammers are trying to steal from you. It’s a red flag if you’re unfamiliar with a company and its ad shows up in your social media feed, and a super-low price might get you a counterfeit or pirated product. You can check out unfamiliar websites with review services at bbb.org or ScamAdvisor.com. Source Link

Meal delivery or takeout can be a convenient alternative when you want a night off from cooking but making healthy choices from an online menu can be a challenge. Avoid items that have the words “fried,” “crispy,” “creamy” or “breaded” in the name and tend to be high in saturated fat. Instead, look for terms like “baked,” “grilled,” “roasted,” and “steamed.” Source Link 

It may be easier to get older adults to use sunscreen by focusing on avoiding short-term pain versus the long-term risk of skin cancer. In one study, concern about getting a sunburn was a bigger motivator to use sunscreen and a reminder from their partner also helped. And older adults may prefer a spray-on sunscreen that’s easier to apply. Source Link 

Scammers are out to spoil some special connections in your summer travel plans. Think twice before hooking-up to free airport WiFi because some networks with familiar names could be powered by a hacker’s hot spot. There are other ways to steal your data so don’t charge your phone with a USB cord that’s not yours. And use a charger that plugs directly into a power outlet and not into a USB charging port. Source Link

How can you beat the ever-rising price of a first-class postage stamp? You can stock up now because Forever stamps you buy today can be used in the future regardless of price hikes. Just don’t look for a deal online because there’s no legitimate way to sell postage stamps at a deep discount. Those offers are likely from scammers who want to steal your credit card information. Source Link

You want to do your part for the environment but you can’t swap your car for a bike, switch to all-solar energy or recycle everything? Spending one minute less in the shower each day would save thousands of gallons of water a year. You could also stop using disposable products and keep a few plastic bags in your car so you don’t use more of them on every grocery trip. Source Link

Your house can be easier to maintain when you keep a diary for it. Start with basic information like the square footage, window sizes and door widths for each room, along with notes about paint colors using code numbers from the paint can. You can even make your own paint swatch on a file card that’s easy to take to the home store when you need to repaint or touch-up. Source Link

Avoiding injury when you’re a weekend athlete takes a week-long effort. Get at least ten to 15 minutes of stretching or strengthening each day to help prime your body for weekend activities. And eating a healthy diet all week long with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein will give your body the nutrients it needs to perform. Source Link

To graduate to better fitness, pick classes at the gym that cover all the subjects. For strength training that’s Pilates or classes using resistance bands or kettlebells. You can cover cardio with spinning, stepping or dance classes and flexibility with yoga or tai chi that have the added benefit of easing stress. Source Link 

These basics of car maintenance are things that any driver can handle themselves. Know how to check and refill your oil, top-off tire air pressure, or jumpstart a dead battery. And you should know the car’s year, make and model because those are needed to find the right parts for D-I-Y work. Source Link 

Here are some ways to make that next moving day go easier. Start packing as early as possible and clearly label all boxes with what’s in them and the room they go to. Declutter first so you’re not moving junk and set up utilities and change your mailing address before moving day. And try to pick a weekday morning or afternoon to save money on paying the movers. Source Link

The journey to a clutter-free home can start with one spot at a time. Pick a place, like a bathroom vanity, kitchen counter or dining room table and commit to keeping it tidy and clear. This can calm your brain and train you to put things where they belong right away rather than dropping it in your clutter-free zone. Source Link 

Here are some smart hacks that make it easier and cheaper to fill your home with WiFi. Don’t hide the router in a cabinet – get it up high in a central part of your home. To save money, consider buying your own modem instead of renting one from your internet provider. And start with a more-affordable lower-speed service that might work fine for you. Source Link

Cleaning a cast-iron skillet the right way involves some special techniques and cleaning tools to preserve the seasoning. Add some warm water a few minutes after removing it from the heat and scrape with a wooden spoon or soft-bristle brush. For stubborn, stuck-on foods, sprinkle some kosher salt in the pan without water and then scrape. Source Link